Retaliation Of The Guardian

Ethan closed the book with a soft thud, already feeling the weight of the task ahead. While the idea of working on Greg's growth intrigued him, his immediate focus needed to be on training his mana. He needed a bigger mana pool if he was going to tap into the full potential of his powers—whether it was creating more complicated constructs or eventually finding a way to reach Earth again.

"Alright, Greg," Ethan said with a sigh, standing up and stretching after hours of reading. "We'll dive deeper into your upgrades later. For now, it's back to the basics."

With that, they left the library and headed back to the inn. The walk back felt longer, weighed down by the knowledge that Ethan's next step involved a task he wasn't looking forward to: creating so many coins. As they arrived at the inn and entered their room, Ethan dropped his belongings by the bed and sat down, staring at his hands.

He knew that creating coins wasn't glamorous, but it was effective. The repetitive act of summoning mana, shaping it, and solidifying it into physical form would help him expand his mana reserves over time. It wasn't fun, but it was necessary if he wanted to increase his pool.

"Okay," Ethan muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. "Here we go."

He focused, feeling the familiar spark of mana inside him. Slowly, he began to shape it, turning it into small silver coins. One by one, they formed above his palm, each one requiring a bit more effort as he repeated the process. At first, it was easy, but as the hours passed, the strain began to build.

Greg stood silently nearby, watching as Ethan worked. Ethan's breathing grew heavier as he pushed himself further, the coins piling up on the table beside him.

"Ugh," Ethan groaned, wiping sweat from his forehead. "This is worse than I thought."

He continued, even though his body was begging him to stop. Training mana wasn't just about using it—it was about pushing past limits, forcing his body to adapt to the greater demands. And as much as he hated it, he knew that with each coin created, he was expanding his capacity, little by little.

After what felt like an eternity, Ethan finally stopped. He had created a small pile of coins, but more importantly, he could feel the subtle increase in his mana reserves. His body was exhausted, but he could tell that the hard work was paying off.

"That's enough for today," Ethan muttered, slumping back onto the bed. "Next time, we'll make something bigger, but right now, I think I'm going to pass out."

As he lay there, eyes half-closed, he could already feel the slight growth in his mana pool. It wasn't much yet, but with time, it would get easier, and soon, he'd be able to tackle much larger creations without feeling like he was on the verge of collapse.

"Greg," Ethan said tiredly, glancing over at the golem, "remind me why I thought this was a good idea again?"

Greg remained silent, as always, but Ethan chuckled softly. At least they were making progress.

With his energy spent, Ethan allowed himself to drift off, knowing that tomorrow would bring even more training and, hopefully, greater strength.

---

Ethan woke up feeling the absence of dreams—no strange visions of Earth, no cryptic messages from the other world. Just the quiet darkness of sleep. His head throbbed a little, a dull reminder of the past few days of intense mana training. He had been pushing himself hard, and while he could feel the growth in his mana, it had come at a cost.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples, trying to shake off the exhaustion still clinging to him. "I think it's time for a break today," he muttered to himself. After all, there was no point in burning himself out before he had fully recovered.

An idea popped into his head, one that immediately lifted his spirits. "Let's go see the children!" Ethan said aloud, grinning as he looked over at Greg. The golem, as always, stood silent but watchful.

Ethan threw on his clothes, feeling a little more energized as the thought of visiting the kids filled him with excitement. It would be good to see them again after the feast—they always managed to brighten his mood.

"Come on, Greg," Ethan said, standing up. "Let's go find the kids."

Greg followed Ethan out of the inn and into the bustling streets of Greystone. The city was alive with activity, as usual, but today Ethan wasn't in a rush. He wanted to enjoy the day, give himself a mental break from all the hard training. The streets passed by in a blur as they made their way back to the inn where the children lived.

As they approached, Ethan felt a little nervous. He hoped the guardian wouldn't be around, or at least wouldn't cause any trouble. The memory of her trying to extort extra money from him still made him scowl.

Pushing open the door to the inn, Ethan peeked inside. It was quieter than usual, but soon enough, a familiar face appeared—Jak. The boy's eyes lit up when he saw Ethan, and he rushed over.

"Ethan!" Jak shouted, his voice filled with excitement. "I didn't think you'd come back so soon!"

Ethan smiled, feeling a rush of warmth. "I figured I'd take a day off from training. Thought I'd check in on you guys. How've you been?"

Before Jak could answer, the rest of the children began to appear, one by one, their faces lighting up as they spotted Ethan and Greg. Even the girl who had tricked Ethan before was there, though she seemed much happier now, the weight of guilt no longer hanging over her.

"Are we going on another feast?" one of the younger boys asked eagerly, his eyes wide with hope.

Ethan laughed, shaking his head. "Not today," he said, "but maybe we can still do something fun. How about we head out for a bit, maybe to the park again?"

The kids cheered in unison, clearly excited at the idea of spending more time outside. Ethan felt his heart lift—it was good to see them smile. He looked around, making sure the guardian wasn't in sight, then gave Jak a wink.

"Let's head out before anyone notices, yeah?"

Jak nodded eagerly, and with that, the group quickly and quietly slipped out of the inn. Once they were outside, the mood shifted to one of pure excitement. The children buzzed with energy as they led the way toward the park, with Ethan and Greg following closely behind.

It was a perfect day for a break—the sun was bright, the air was cool, and the sound of the kids laughing filled the streets as they made their way to the park. Ethan smiled, feeling a sense of calm and joy return. Today wasn't about training, or mana, or worrying about the future—it was about living in the moment.

Ethan smiled as they reached the park, the open space filled with laughter and the excited chatter of the kids. He found a spot under a large tree, leaning back against the trunk as he watched the children rush off to play.

"Greg, go play with them," Ethan said with a grin, nudging his silent companion forward.

Greg, as always, didn't say a word, but he moved with a kind of awkward grace toward the kids. At first, they hesitated, unsure how to involve the silent golem, but soon enough, they found ways to include him. They started running around him, pretending Greg was some kind of giant monster they had to dodge, or getting him to help them build things out of sticks and rocks. His towering figure stood in stark contrast to the children, but somehow, the sight of Greg gently interacting with them was both endearing and hilarious.

Ethan chuckled to himself, feeling a rare sense of peace. He hadn't taken a day to just relax like this in a long time. Leaning back against the tree, he thought he'd just watch the children play from a distance.

But the kids had other plans.

Before Ethan realized what was happening, Jak and the younger girl who had once tricked him rushed over, grabbing his arms.

"Come on, Ethan! You're playing too!" Jak shouted, tugging on his sleeve.

"Wait, what?" Ethan laughed, caught off guard. "I was just going to watch!"

But the children were insistent, and soon more of them came over, pulling him up from his comfortable spot against the tree. Despite his protests, their enthusiasm was contagious, and before long, Ethan was laughing along with them.

They dragged him into a game of tag, with the kids darting around, trying to avoid being "it" while Greg, with his larger form, became a kind of base that everyone tried to tag for safety. Ethan ran alongside the children, his energy returning in waves as he played along.

It wasn't long before Ethan was "it," chasing after the kids with exaggerated slowness, letting them escape just at the last second. His laughter mixed with theirs, and soon, the park was filled with nothing but the sound of joy and playfulness.

Greg stood like a stone sentinel, watching the chaos unfold, but every now and then, Ethan could swear he saw a flicker of something in Greg's movements, like he was enjoying this too in his own quiet way.

As the game went on, Ethan felt his exhaustion from training melt away. For the first time in days, he wasn't thinking about mana or other worlds—he was just in the moment, letting himself have fun. The kids' laughter was infectious, and for a few hours, it felt like nothing else mattered.

---

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the city of Greystone, Ethan and the kids made their way back toward the inn. The day had been filled with laughter and fun, and Ethan's heart felt lighter. But as they approached the inn, that lightness quickly vanished.

The guardian was standing outside, arms crossed, her face twisted into a mask of pure fury. Her eyes locked onto the children as they neared, and the tension in the air became palpable. Ethan's steps slowed, but the kids instinctively moved closer to him, their earlier joy quickly fading.

"Get inside!" the guardian barked, her voice sharp and cruel. The kids flinched, hurrying past her into the inn without a word, their smiles disappearing as they obeyed. Ethan's chest tightened as he watched the life drain from their faces, the happiness they'd just shared being ripped away by this woman's harshness.

Once the kids were inside, the guardian turned her gaze on Ethan, and her expression darkened further. She stomped over, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Who do you think you are?" she hissed, her voice rising as she closed the distance between them. "Taking the children out without my permission? You have no right to meddle in their lives!"

Ethan's face remained calm, but internally, his anger simmered beneath the surface. He didn't respond immediately, letting her rant. But as she went on, her threats escalated.

"If you do that again, I'll call the city guards!" she snapped, her voice shrill. "Or maybe..." She paused, a twisted smirk crossing her face as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "Maybe I'll just sell them. They're a burden, anyway. I could fetch a good price for those brats."

The moment those words left her mouth, something inside Ethan snapped. His calm expression shifted instantly, and he felt his mana stir within him, fueled by his rising fury. He stepped forward, towering over her now, his eyes narrowing dangerously.

"You wouldn't dare," Ethan said, his voice low and cold, each word laced with restrained anger. His entire demeanor shifted—gone was the laid-back, easygoing tone he usually carried. Now, there was a menacing edge to him.

The guardian flinched slightly but quickly tried to regain her composure. "Oh, wouldn't I?" she sneered, but her voice wavered, the confidence in her words faltering under Ethan's intense gaze.

"If you even think about harming those kids or selling them," Ethan said slowly, stepping even closer, "you'll regret it. I've tolerated a lot from you, but this is the line you won't cross."

Greg, sensing Ethan's rising anger, shifted behind him, his large form looming silently over both of them. The guardian glanced at Greg, her eyes widening just a little as the realization of what she was dealing with began to sink in.

"You can call the guards if you want," Ethan continued, his voice calm but icy. "But I don't think you'll like the attention that brings. Because if you so much as touch those kids, I'll make sure everyone in this city knows exactly what you are."

The guardian's face paled, her earlier bravado slipping. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. The threat of losing her control over the children, and the potential consequences Ethan hinted at, made her falter.

"Now," Ethan said, taking a step back, his eyes never leaving hers, "I suggest you go inside, mind your own business, and remember who you're dealing with."

For a long moment, the guardian stood there, frozen in place, her face a mix of fear and rage. Then, without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed back into the inn, slamming the door behind her.

Ethan took a deep breath, the tension in his body slowly releasing. He glanced at Greg, who stood silently by his side, his presence a constant source of support. "Guess we'll have to keep an eye on her," Ethan muttered, his anger still simmering beneath the surface.

But one thing was certain—she wouldn't dare cross him again.